Mets Comeback Against Phillies Dates Back To Win Against Diamondbacks
In the April 22 game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Brandon Nimmo went from first to third on a ball hit to left fielder Cooper Hummel. It was made possible due to the fact Nimmo read Hummel hesitate and because Nimmo is constantly hustling. In fact, after the game, Buck Showalter said, “He never slows [down]. He always gives himself a chance to get an extra base because he comes out of the box hard. Nim doesn’t do anything but go hard. (Tim Healey, Newsday).
This is something fans always noticed with Nimmo. Yes, at times, it seems comical. After all, why is it a player busts it out of the box for a walk? The answer is simply that hustling and always playing that hard is so deeply ingrained in Nimmo that he busts it out of the box on a walk, and we also see him racing around the bases after a homer.
The thing is the way Nimmo loves the game and plays hard gets noticed. The fans love him for it, and for some reason, commentators seem to hate him for it. As for his teammates, they notice and realize they need to match his intensity.
Specifically, on that play when Nimmo went first-to-third, Starling Marte would say, “When I saw the guy play like that, that’s how I have to play too.”
In that game, Marte did play like that. In the 10th, Marte busted it out of the box, and he would be safe on what proved to be an RBI infield single. It was one of the more memorable plays of the season because Marte’s hustle and speed delivered them a win in extra innings.
Now, it is easy to hustle when the game is on the line. It is a whole other thing when the game is completely out of reach. That was the case in the ninth inning of the game against the Phillies.
When Marte led off the inning against James Norwood, they were down 7-1. Coming into the series, their big bats were in a funk. No one could have ever anticipated the Mets were going to make a comeback. Despite that, Marte absolutely busted it out of the box, and he would be safe on an infield single.
You wanna watch that 9th inning over again? You know, the one where the Mets scored 7 runs?
Here you go 😉 pic.twitter.com/tTrCnOQbGX
— SNY (@SNYtv) May 6, 2022
That was a routine play which should’ve been an out. However, it wasn’t because Johan Camargo was going through the motions, and Marte was busting it out of the box. Really, in a moment where no one would have noticed or frankly even cared if he jogged down the line, Marte busted it for a hit.
In that very moment, the game winning rally was born. It was a moment which hearkened back to Nimmo hustling in Arizona and Marte saying he needs to play more like that. Really, it is quite fitting Nimmo would have the game tying hit, and Marte would have the game winning RBI driving in Nimmo.
This right here is why this Mets team is special, and why were are in for a great season. It’s not just that you have players like Marte and Nimmo absolutely busting it on every play. It’s more than that. This is about a team driving each other to be great, to be an even better version of the player they already are.
So far, it led to an extra inning victory, and it led to a miracle comeback. It can lead the Mets to a World Series.
Great post
Marte eas a great signing. He makes this team a lot better and I always love the way Nimmo plays the game. It’s so easy to root for him.
Thank you
Dom has a career wRC+ of 103 vs Davis having a career wRC+ in the 120’s
I know you don’t understand how to analyze players and would rather improperly cite numbers with zero context
Oh okay sorry for using their career stats my bad bro
Yes, it was your bad for failing to contextualize the stats
I guess Dom’s career stats don’t fit your narrative Metsdummy.
You posted a stat with zero context, and you did it because you don’t understand baseball.
So Guillorme?
Telling response
It ain’t Dom he’s the worst of the three
Did you hear that sound?
I like J.D. for dh. You have to admit the need for his right handed bat and he gets on base. What’s not to like? Dom has serious highs and lows and Guillorme is ok, but I need to see more. I love that this team is based on merit. How many other clubs would have stuck with Cano because he’s owed 40 mill?
JD always gets exposed with expanded playing time. He’s a RHB off the bench. There’s nothing wrong with that.
He sure got exposed in 2019 with that 22 homers and 135 wRC+ and 2.5 war eh?
Exactly the point. You have to go back three years with a juiced ball and no book on him.
His only good stretch was a 60 game season numbnuts
You seem really obsessed with my genitalia.
Your blog looks like it was designed in 1999 and your terrible opinions are archaic at best. Dom Smith’s career numbers are hideous.
Like on MMO the other day, I know you’re lying
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/smithdo02.shtml
You’re that person who reads Animal Farm and thinks it’s a story about farm animals